Kailasa Temple Ellora

Introduction
One of the most astonishing and stupefying 'buildings' in the history of architecture, the Kailasa Temple, Ellora was sculpted and carved out of a volcanic hillside. The carving of the temple started from the top of the original rock and slowly went downwards. The temple is also known as Kailasanatha Temple.

History
The Kailasa Temple, Maharashtra was started by the Rashtrakuta king, Krishna I, in the 8th century. There is evidence to suggest that the temple took several years to be completd. The rock-cut architecture takes after the Virupaksha Temple at Pattadkal, which was built by the Chalukyas when that dynasty was at its height of its glory. The Chalukyas were superseded by the Rashtrakutas. At the time that Krishna I graced the throne, the kingdom was at its pinnacle of power and art flourished.

Description
Kailasa Temple, Ellora was built following the traditional methods. It is estimated that to build this monolithic and massive structure, about 400,000 tons of rocks were scooped and bested out over hundreds of years. Revealing the U-shaped courtyard is a two-storeyed gateway. The courtyard in Kailasa Temple in Ellora in India has two structures. There is an image of the sacred bull Nandi. Seven meters high, Nandi Mandap and main Shiva temple are built on two stories. Connecting the Nandi Mandap to the porch of the temple is a living rock bridge. The temple itself reflects a pyramid like structure.

The courtyard in Kailasa Temple, Ellora possesses two Dhvajastambhas (pillars with the flagstaff). The rock cut temple is164 feet deep, 109 feet wide and 98 feet high. The temple exhibits and displays typical Dravidian features. The temple was actually carved out of just one single rock.